Everton v Coventry City - Premier League 2026/27
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Everton v Coventry City - Premier League 2026/27
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Everton have made it back-to-back wins over Newcastle in the space of five days, and the plaudits have been flying in.
A 1-0 win at St James’ Park on Monday night lifted David Moyes’ side up to seventh in the table, after they beat the same side in the Carabao Cup in midweek. It was a spirited performance from the Toffees, who won more of their duels than any Premier League side has managed in a single game this season.
Thierno Barry got the winning goal, continuing his hot streak of form, while Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall ran the show behind him. The defence was solid too, with captain James Tarkowski delivering a top performance alongside Jarrad Branthwaite, who looks back to his best. But Everton legend Leon Osman thinks another player deserves just as much credit, and he did it in a role nobody expected.
What a week 😍 Everton beat Newcastle AGAIN – give us your reaction 👇
😂
He needs to work on his whole game. If he hasn't developed a decent first touch, holding up the ball, winning headers at 24 yrs old, it would be a miracle if he becomes a top rate player.
Leon Osman says Merlin Rohl was ‘outstanding’ against Newcastle
Speaking on the Outside the Box Pod, Osman praised the whole side, but singled out Rohl, who was handed a start on the right of Everton’s front four.
“I’m going right across the board and I’m including Tyrique George, who was very good out of possession as well as in possession, and Merlin Rohl, who I just thought was outstanding,” Osman said. “And that’s not to mention the midfield three, which dominated the game. That group of players never lost, or very rarely lost, a second ball or a duel.”
It’s been quite the season on Merseyside for the German so far, who was initially signed as a central midfielder for around £17million. But having played at right-back in the Carabao Cup win and then on the right wing just days later, Rohl has turned into a valuable squad player under Moyes.
M. Röhl
Everton – Premier League (2026 – 2027)
Appearances 6
Minutes Played 521
Average Rating 6.68
Assists 0
Key Passes 2
Tackles 8
Duels Won 24
Successful Dribbles 3
Why Merlin Rohl on the right worked against Newcastle
Seeing Rohl start ahead of Tyler Dibling was frustrating at first, particularly as many fans felt the latter had done enough in the cup win to earn a chance in the league.
But tactically, Moyes got this one right. Rohl’s job wasn’t really to beat a man and cross. It was to stretch Newcastle physically and give Everton an outlet on the right, something Brennan Johnson hasn’t managed to do. Asking Dibling to play that role wouldn’t have suited him at all.
It does suit Rohl well, though. According to FotMob, he won four of his six ground duels, made five recoveries and completed two dribbles. When Everton needed to get out of a tight spot, he gave them a way out, carrying the ball into space and driving them up the pitch.
His delivery is improving, too, and Lewis Hall, so dangerous going forward for Newcastle, barely got a look-in down that side.
Rohl probably isn’t the long-term answer on the right, and he’s at his best when he has space to run into. But Monday proved he’s a really useful, versatile player in this squad. At a club this short on numbers, that’s worth a lot.
Merlin Rohl should revert to right-back for Coventry
Everton are back in action on Friday night when Frank Lampard’s Coventry City visit the Hill Dickinson Stadium, and it’s a very different test.
At home, and against a promoted side, the Toffees will be expected to win. That means being on the front foot, and the approach that worked so well at St James’ Park won’t cut it.
That’s why Rohl should move back to right-back. Jake O’Brien did a job on Monday, but having him there is just too negative for a game like this. Rohl offers far more going forward, and it would free up the right wing for someone more attacking, with Dibling surely in the frame.
The Newcastle win worked because it was a very specific plan for a very specific game. And that’s sometimes where Moyes lets himself down. He finds something that works and then tries to apply it to every game.
He can’t be doing that on Friday. If Everton want to go fourth, they have to go and take the game to Coventry.